President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen was responding to several news reports yesterday which said Vice President Annette Lu (
Lu said in the interview that when first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) was indicted on corruption charges in the "state affairs" fund case last November, "someone" had forced Chen to declare that he would resign if Wu were found guilty.
PHOTO: CNA
Lu said in the interview that the mystery figure had set two conditions and threatened to resign.
"The rumors have been very unfair to Premier Su," Chen said when approached by the media for comments yesterday. "He has discussed with me the possibility of leaving his post on four occasions."
Chen added that on each occasion he had sought to reassure Su.
"Last November we met again and he told me that he was prepared to leave for the sake of political stability. I told him that if he really wanted to maintain political stability he should not raise the subject again," Chen said.
When approached by the media after the DPP's Central Executive Committee meeting yesterday, Su said he was grateful for the president's support.
Su said he had worked hard to live up to the public's expectations since becoming premier.
"At times when I heard the rumors attempting to discredit me, I felt I had been wronged. But I have endured. I did so not only to show my character but also to foster party unity. I hope the rumors will stop," he said.
Speaking earlier yesterday, Su said it would be impossible for him to force the president from office because "the premier would be the first to go if the president resigned."
This would not be to his advantage, he said.
When approached by the media, Lu denied implicating Su.
Former premier Frank Hsieh (
Asked to comment, DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun said: "Lu's remarks were close to the truth," but refused to say whether Lu had implicated Su.
Additional reporting by Angelica Oung and CNA
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